MISSIONARY NOTICES, published Monthly. (New Series.) GENERAL VIEW OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONS. (New Edition.) HINTS TO THOSE who ask, Why should I contribute to the Missions? N.B. These Publications will be sent to the order of any of the Preachers, or of the Secretaries or Treasurers of Auxiliary or Branch Missionary Societies, the cost price being deducted from the amount of Money remitted by them, and charged in the Report, under the head of "Local Expenses for Publications," &c. DEFENCE OF THE WEST INDIAN MISSIONS. By the late Rev. RICHARD WATSON. THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE SLAVES OF THE WEST INDIA COLONIES, ADVOCATED AND DEFENDED. A Sermon preached before the Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society, in the City. Road Chapel, London, April 28th, 1824. By the late Rev. RICHARD WATSON, one of the Secretaries of the Institution. Fourth Edition. A REPORT of the principal Speeches delivered at the Formation of the Wesleyan DIVINE LAWS ORDAINED FOR BLESSING. A Discourse delivered before VOCABULARY OF THE KAFFIR LANGUAGE. By the Rev. JOHN AYLIFF. SINGHALESE AND ENGLISH LEXICON. By the late Rev. B. CLOUGH. ENGLISH AND SINGHALESE LEXICON. By the late Rev. B. CLOUGH. GRAMMAR OF THE FEEJEEAN LANGUAGE. By the Rev. D. HAZLEWOOD. ASHANTI AND THE GOLD-COAST; being a Sketch of the History, Social State, and Superstitions of the Inhabitants of those Countries; with a Notice of the State and Prospects of Christianity. By the Rev. JOHN BEECHAM. FRIENDLY AND FEEJEE ISLANDS: a Missionary Visit to the various Stations in the South Seas, in the Year 1847. By the Rev. WALTER LAWRY: with Map and Woodcuts. Edited by the Rev. ELIJAH HOOLE. A SECOND MISSIONARY VISIT то THE FRIENDLY AND FEEJEE ISLANDS, IN THE YEAR 1850. By the Rev. WALTER LAWRY, General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Missions in New-Zealand, &c. Edited by the Rev. ELIJAH HOOLE. MADRAS, MYSORE, AND THE SOUTH OF INDIA; or, a Personal Narrative of a Mission to those Countries, from 1820 to 1828. Second Edition. By the Rev. ELIJAH HOOLE. A MISSION TO THE MYSORE; with Scenes and Facts illustrative of India, ***The above Publications may be had at the Mission-House. The Wesleyan Missionary Notices for the year 1854, may be had in one Volume, in Cambric, Price 1s. 6d. ; and the Wesleyan Juvenile Offering for 1854, in One Volume, Price 1s. WESLEYAN MISSIONARY NOTICES, &o, OCTOBER, 1855. THE aspect of the work of Missions, in the various places occupied by the Society, is very promising. The strongholds of Satan in Feejee are exhibiting symptoms of surrender and decay, which encourage the brethren of the Australasian Conference to assure the Committee, that Feejee is won to Christ, if there can be afforded to them a sufficient number of additional labourers to take advantage of the present state of the native mind on the subject of religion. The late Conference authorized the supply of four additional Missionaries to Feejee at the expense of the Parent Society's Fund, in the full conviction that the friends of that Mission will not allow the means to be wanting for their outfit and passage. The exigencies of the Missions in NewZealand have induced the Conference to authorize the appointment of four additional Missionaries to that wide and promising field of labour, also at the expense of the Parent Society's Fund. It will rejoice many hearts in both hemispheres to learn, that the recent arrangements for including those Missions in the Australasian Connexion has not separated them from the sympathies and help of the Parent Society. The Missions in the Friendly Islands will also feel the benefit of the augmented number of young Ministers, not less than twelve, which are about to be placed at the disposal of the Australasian Conference. These arrangements will create a large demand on the pecuniary resources of the Society, which it is hoped will be remembered and liberally provided for by those whose hearts God has inclined to help his cause in the earth. In France and Germany, in Switzerland and Italy, God is carrying on his work of the conversion of men to the light and happiness of the Gospel. At Madrid a large edition of the New Testament in the Spanish language has been completed, under the direction of Mr. Alton, at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society. A second Missionary has been appointed to Gibraltar, to leave Mr. Alton more at liberty to pursue the work which now calls for his attention in the interior of Spain. The labours of a young Jewish convert, from the Gibraltar Mission, for the benefit of Africans at Plymouth, and the fruit of that Mission now found at Buenos-Ayres, will be noticed on a later page. From our Armies and Navies, both in the Black Sea and in the Baltic, frequent intimations are received of a good work of God in many hearts. It will be a source of unspeakable comfort to such of our beloved fellow-countrymen, exposed to the privations and perils incident to a state of war, as may receive this Number of the "Notices," to know that they are constantly and fervently remembered by many thousands of God's people in their addresses to his throne. N VOL. II. THIRD SERIES. OCTOBER, 1855. 166 STATE AND PROSPECTS OF WESLEYAN MISSIONS. Oct., In India there is a strong desire to restore the waste places of the Missions, and to extend the work among a very numerous and willing people. The appointment of two Missionaries to supply vacancies in India, and two to Ceylon, is but a feeble instalment of what the Society hopes to accomplish for those populous regions, when larger means shall be placed at their command. The beginning which has been made in China requires to be faithfully sustained. Africa presents an open field for Missionary operation. The recent disturbances at the Gambia will probably result in an extension of the British territory, and in bringing additional tribes within the reach of the Missionaries. The Sierra-Leone Mission prospers, but has serious demands on the immediate sympathy and help of the Society. The place of the lamented Native Missionary, Joseph Wright, and of the respected General Superintendent of the Mission, the Rev. James Edney, again disabled by sickness, and about to return home, will have to be supplied. The extensive regions embraced by the Cape-Coast Mission present appearances of success and future promise, which create applications for agency and pecuniary help quite beyond the present ability of the Society. The same may be said of the extensive Districts of Southern and South-Eastern Africa, whither three or four additional Missionaries are about to be sent. The demand from the West Indies and from British North America and Newfoundland for more labourers, is at once a cause of joy and a source of embarrassment to the Missionary Committee. In a future Number some account may be expected of Dr. Beecham's visit to the Eastern Provinces of British America and Canada, and of the new arrangements and proposed extension of the Missions in those prosperous and increasing Colonies. It may at once be stated, that in America, as well as in Australasia and other parts of the Mission field, there is a great necessity for additional labourers, so that Ministers in the Home Circuits will be doing valuable service by watching over promising candidates for the Mission work, and preparing them for those examinations which they must undergo, whether for immediate appointment or for preparatory training in the Theological Institution. There is a present demand for faithful and laborious Ministers, indicating the probability that God is at the same time preparing both men and means to meet the pressing exigency. Early intimation that such men are coming forward, will be gratefully received by the Missionary Secretaries. Now is the time for prayer, earnest and persevering prayer, to the Lord of the harvest ;-for work, faithful and energetic work, for Christ, both on the part of Ministers pleading with their congregations, and of each zealous-hearted individual in his own sphere ;-for giving, with a liberality only limited by ability, and by the measure of our love to God and of his love to us. The absence in America, on behalf of Methodism in Ireland, of one favoured advocate of Missions, and the failure of the health of others, -the pressure of the war on the finances of the country at the present time, and the exigencies and wants of the work,-combine to form an immediate and urgent claim on the interest and energies of all who desire to see the kingdom of God hastened in the world, which it is hoped will be practically felt and acknowledged at this season, throughout every Circuit and Branch Missionary Society in the British islands, WESTERN AFRICA. GAMBIA. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. George Meadows, dated St. Mary's, WAR EXCITED BY MOHAMMEDANS, OUR colony is just now in a very unsettled state. During the last few weeks a Moor from the Senegal has been very actively engaged in setting the Maraboos, the strict Mohammedans, against the Suninkees, or drinking-people, and against us. At his instigation, it is believed, the King of Combo, a Suninkee, who ceded to us the large town of Sabagee and some adjoining territory the year before last, has been murdered. About three weeks ago our Governor sent a Police Magistrate, some Constables and soldiers, to apprehend a man in the town just named, who had taken away the wife of another of our subjects. The people refused to give him up, attacked our men, wounded a military officer, (not on duty,) who accompanied them, in the arm, which has since been amputated, and took two of the soldiers prisoners. Before we had time to hear of what they had done, they sallied forth to the neighbouring towns belonging to us, scattered, killed, or made prisoners, of the people, took their goods, and burnt their houses. Our little grass hut-like chapels at Jeswang and Newcastle, and a good, well-furnished dwelling-house belonging to a European, were also destroyed. military and militia were immediately called out, and ordered to proceed to Sabbagee. On their way thither, they were surprised by the Mandingoes, who were concealed in the bush, and compelled to retreat. His Excellency, the Governor, who commanded the troops, some of the officers, Seymour Gay, the gunner, one of our best Leaders, and several others, were wounded, and about thirty were killed. The Being too far from Sierra-Leone, or any English settlement on the coast, to obtain immediate help from it, an application was made to the Governor of the neighbouring French settlement at Goree, who promptly sent us a transport with ninety soldiers and sailors, and a steamer with two hundred men. These, and four or five hundred Siries and others accustomed to bush-fighting, being added to our troops, on Saturday last the Governor again started for Sabbagee. The inhabitants came out to oppose him, and continued to do so until fairly driven back to their town. Into this rockets and shells were fired for some time, killing many people, setting fire to many houses, but not doing much damage to the stockade, which was made of green wood. last the soldiers entered it, cut down the people, burnt up their stores, retook a bugle, a brass gun, some rockets and other things left behind in the retreat nearly three weeks before, restored to liberty some of our men whom they had caught and put in irons, and captured their large war-drum. The stockade was pulled up, and every thing that could be eaten or used was removed. In this affair only one man on our side -a French Sergeant-Major-was killed, and not many wounded. The Mandingoes, it is supposed, lost two hundred men and women. At Whether there will be any more fighting at present, I cannot tell; but, if not, there will be after the rainy season, as there are several towns to which the Mandingoes have fled, or in which they have allies, which many are of opinion must be destroyed before we can have a lasting peace. At the commencement of the war, we -Wesleyans-set apart a day for fasting and prayer. This we did, not only because we dread the usual evils, accompa nying war, but because we regard this |